New East Extreme Races Attendance

[Don]

MA-1 sounds fine to me. "A stock" never seemed right for this class once it developed.

[james gerber]

yes lets figure the out before b class becomes an issue.

[jerseybigfoot]

Any interest in a entry level spec machine class

[LittleG]

Is this gonna be a quiet single carb single stock exhaust class.

[jerseybigfoot]

Thinking like George’s machine with Cheney engine. Quiet would be possible. Wider stance so less likely to roll over.

[ARGOJIM]

I know we spoke a bit about the "spec class" and tossed around some ideas such as;
Attex
sealed engine
spec tire
spec gear
to even things up so it all came down to driver, as much as I like that.
I got to thinking yesterday and that creates a whole money issue for some and perhaps the spec sealed engine thing may be all that is really necessary, another singular class also would cause everyone interested to purchase and haul a separate machine. This would allow the current A's, if interested, to simply bring an engine and do a swap between races.

Many people have old Max II's laying around and others have many Attex laying around, it would be nice to see many of the older less popular machines running around again also. For instance with a simple engine mount made and Sharkey could switch back and forth if wanted.
It would be nice to see Argo, Amphicat, Attex, Max, Scrambler, Wedge, Sierra and others all on the track at the same time. While one may have a mechanical advantage over another, a driver advantage may overtake the machine advantage and the named advantages should constantly change by track or equipment condition.

[jerseybigfoot]

Jim, that is another idea. What would work best to get new racers. It may be easier to get existing 6x6 non racers to race than newcomers like the NEEDT crowd. The NEEDT venue is really the best way to get racing exposure but it’s unknown if it will bring new racers in. If the quads and three wheel racer numbers increases NEEDT may require us to have more than 2 or 3 cars in a race.

[ARGOJIM]

What I'm thinking is the current trail machines could , show up at Pine Lake for example trail ride all weekend and, do a swap on Sunday morning.
Example maxiv could ride stock all weekend then Sunday swap engines, install 4 point harness kit and racing seat in about 1-1\2 hours with stock carb . a II could do the same, Attex the same though the engine cover would need modified. Most people as running 4 point cages now, this leaves a quick change exhaust to deal with. If the machine is built or converted to spec engine it would just be the seat and belt issue to deal with as these engines are designed to run all day already .

Just a few thoughts as this could bring more people into both races.

[Don]

The cost is most likely the biggest thing standing in the way of more people getting out to race. After the cost of travel and high gate and registration fees, there isn't a huge amount left in most folk's hobby budget to build a racer. Anything we can do to keep the cost low should be paramount. A sealed engine and builder's choice as to the rest of the machine would make it a more attractive class to new racers and more fun to watch, I think.

[LittleG]

What I'm thinking is the current trail machines could , show up at Pine Lake for example trail ride all weekend and, do a swap on Sunday morning.
Example maxiv could ride stock all weekend then Sunday swap engines, install 4 point harness kit and racing seat in about 1-1\2 hours with stock carb . a II could do the same, Attex the same though the engine cover would need modified. Most people as running 4 point cages now, this leaves a quick change exhaust to deal with. If the machine is built or converted to spec engine it would just be the seat and belt issue to deal with as these engines are designed to run all day already .

Just a few thoughts as this could bring more people into both races.

As a kid i used to do this with the RIM convert it to racing eveyyear i gotta tell ya it turns into a two week project its not as easy as change motors an seat you gotta have scatter shields too and if you put the seat down low like it should be you gotta change the sticks so you can reach them comfortably. And you can have everything pre built set up to just drop in and when the moment comes your gonna find out it takes hours to get it all done because after trail riding all weekend nothing is going to line up the way it should its a nice idea in a perfect world plus the ones that ride the snot out of there machines will most likely have other repairs on top of the conversion.

[james gerber]

Its hard to get people interested in something they have no experience with. They think its cool enough and would like to get involved.
Even before we talk about a new class we need a way to get people in 6x6's and to a trail ride event. learning how to drive,
sitting in on a trail ride. (feel the fun that we do) As of late the only racers that have joined up with us (are or were) in the hobby already.
They buy prebuilt machines sold buy other fellow racers or built up themselves.

[smudvapor]

Its hard to get people interested in something they have no experience with. They think its cool enough and would like to get involved.
Even before we talk about a new class we need a way to get people in 6x6's and to a trail ride event. learning how to drive,
sitting in on a trail ride. (feel the fun that we do) As of late the only racers that have joined up with us (are or were) in the hobby already.
They buy prebuilt machines sold buy other fellow racers or built up themselves.

I agree with you Jimmy, they aren't all like me and willing to just jump in with both feet with a blindfold on!

[LittleG]

But you know we have a group of race people that are not far from most of the races and can't even keep them interested in coming out.So i don't know if making another class is really the answer.Also there are supposedly people building racers for the last few years that still have not shown up for a sinlgle event. I personally know some guys that bought machines to build up and still haven't started on them.

[ARGOJIM]

Its hard to get people interested in something they have no experience with. They think its cool enough and would like to get involved.

I agree and my point is, if there are more machines and the races more entertaining more people hopefully should come on.

Even before we talk about a new class we need a way to get people in 6x6's and to a trail ride event. learning how to drive,
sitting in on a trail ride. (feel the fun that we do)

I totally agree, but unless we as machine owners individually stop every quad and side by side we see and say get in they will still sit back and say things like. That's cool, Too big, Too slow, Too wide.
If you are out there at parks most stop a couple minutes watch and move on with an opinion never having been in one. Or the inevitable " How fast is it?" "Does it float? Followed by "How deep of water will it float in?"

[ARGOJIM]

As a kid i used to do this with the RIM convert it to racing eveyyear i gotta tell ya it turns into a two week project its not as easy as change motors an seat you gotta have scatter shields too and if you put the seat down low like it should be you gotta change the sticks so you can reach them comfortably. And you can have everything pre built set up to just drop in and when the moment comes your gonna find out it takes hours to get it all done because after trail riding all weekend nothing is going to line up the way it should its a nice idea in a perfect world plus the ones that ride the snot out of there machines will most likely have other repairs on top of the conversion.

Perhaps my wording is off some.

Basically what I am implying is switching out say a Vanguard or a Predator or even Kohler in lets say a Max II for example.

The floorboards;
are almost all cut at the seat for access so removing the seat and bolting a pre made plate on top of jackshaft tower, same seating position but safer, same stick height.
Attex would be similar with say seat frame bolted to frame and front trans bolts. Engine cover would need a second cut one.

Engine;
provided the stock carbs are used the throttle cable removed, exhaust attached to stock location be it Attex flex pipe or Max external or internal exhaust positions (pre made adapters of course). Engine plates be it Attex or Max are 4 bolts, stock 780 clutching used so no belt change. Fuel line switched. My engine has the stock kill switch on the engine and I teed into it so I could put a switch on the dash per rules ( both function still).
Chain guards covered in floorboards. Engine covers are belt guards ( scatter shields ).

Roll Bar ( used to be 3 points required)
4 point (which most are using now any how.) similar to what I have using stock bar or approved equivalents.

Seat belts 4 point ( weren't they at one time 3 point?);
A set of racing belts with lower attached to frame ( jackshaft tower on Max II), on Max II's a cross bar attached to roll bar would work for shoulder belts.



So basically A Stock Machine with some safety and the spec engine to even things up with minimal outlays and maintenance, one could build his machine this way and trail it if so wanted. Many are using the $300 clones as their build platform now.

Next month should show how many people are interested in racing in general, all of those machines ( less the real racers) will have been beaten on before the Hare Scramble.
4 laps in the woods should eat more than 5 on the track.